September 5th 2024.
The television series, Empire, was a highly popular show that ran for six seasons before coming to an end in 2020. Lee Daniels, the co-creator of the show, recently opened up about his experience working on the series, admitting that it was not a pleasant one.
Empire followed the story of Lucious Lyon, the founder of Empire Entertainment, as he struggles with choosing which of his three sons should inherit his company. The show boasted an all-star cast, including Taraji P Henson, Jussie Smollett, Bryshere Y Gray, Trai Byers, and Grace Byers.
While the first season of Empire garnered over 15 million viewers and received an 82% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it was not all smooth sailing behind the scenes. In an interview with The Film Stage, Lee Daniels confessed that he did not enjoy his time working on the show.
As a filmmaker, Daniels had always worked independently and was not used to having to answer to others. He decided to join the television industry to see what it was like to work with studio executives and receive notes on his work. However, he quickly realized that it was a "horrible" experience. Despite this, the financial success of the show allowed him to provide for his family, making the experience somewhat worth it.
Empire may have ended in 2020, but plans for a spin-off focusing on Taraji's character, Cookie, were scrapped. However, Daniels seems to have had a better experience with his latest project, The Deliverance, which premiered on Netflix. The horror film stars Mo'Nique and Glenn Close and follows a single mother, Ebony Jackson, as she moves her family to a new home, only to discover that it is inhabited by an evil force.
To ensure the safety and well-being of his cast and crew, Daniels went above and beyond by hiring an apostle to anoint the set every day and having people pray for them constantly. This was a new experience for Glenn Close, who revealed that she had never witnessed such practices on a set before. She also praised Daniels for creating a positive and protected working environment.
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